Improvement in ditching-machines



l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo NELSON KIDDEE, OE Moscow, IOWA, ASSIGNOE To B. E. LINVILLE, OE SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DITCHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,736, dated June 21, 1862.

To all whom it mayy concern Be itknown that LNELSON KIDDER, of Moscow, in the county of Muscat-ine and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful ImprovementinDitching-Machines; and ldo hereby declare that the followin gis a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan of the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation ot the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The subject of this invention is a machine with angular front and adjustable expanding sides adapted to excavate and completely form a ditch of any depth, and with sides of any inclination, as hereinafter explained.

'lo enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is an axlejournaled in wheels B B. j

C is a draft-beam provided with a shaft, D, projecting upward through the axle A, and

` held by a pin, d, so as to support the beam at any height.

E is a plowshare projecting downward and forward from the rear or central part of the beam C.

F is a colter, which may be of any suitable forni and either xed or rotary.

G is a central frame, secured in front to the plow E and 'beam C, extending horizontally backward and supported at its rear end at any height by an adjustable easter-wheel, H, the shank h of which tits in a suitable socket, and is held at any height by a set-screw, h'.

I I are two Side frames hinged at i z' i t to the central frame, G, and held at any height or angle of Obliquity by means ot' Segments J J, passing through a standard, K, and secured by a pin. The side frames expand backward, presenting in connection with the share a wed gelike contour, as shown in Fig. l. Flanges L L project from the lower outer edges of the hinged frames I, for the purpose of forming the sides of the ditch and elevating and discharging the earth, as hereinafter explained.

M M are standards connecting the beam C, with the share E and central frame, G.

N N are mold-boards attached, one on each side, to the standard M.

O 0 are rollers, attached adjustably to the rear Vend of the frames I by means of slotted Shanks 0 o, which may be secured in any position by set screws o' The operation is as follows: The pin el being adjusted so as to permit the descent of the share to a suitable depth below the wheels, the machine is drawn forward by means ofthe beams C, and the sha-re entering the ground, the furrow is equally divided by the colter F, and by the share E and mold-boards N is deposited upon the elevating-wings I I, by which itis carried to the surface and deposited on the outside ofthe ditch. As the ditch increases in depth its sides are formed by the cutting-Hanges L L, the whole forming practically a large continuous share adjustable in width and height. The rollers O O following compress the sides ofthe ditch, rendering them smooth and durable.

A revolving colter may, if preferred, be substituted for the xed colter F, and other changes may be made in the form of the various parts of the machine, so long as'the manner of operation hereinbefore made known be not departed from.

In practice the flanges L L will form part of mold-boards of iron or steel, covering the whole face of each win g.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- As an improvement in ditching-machines, the combination of the share E and adjustable expandin g-win gs I I, adjustable supportin gwheel H h, and rollers O, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

' NELSON KIDDER. Witnesses:

WILLIAM D. CONN, WM. W. HILL. 

